Gingival enlargement and its risk factors in kidney transplant patients receiving cyclosporine A

Gingival enlargement is one of the most cumbersome
complications of cyclosporine A. It affects patient’s life style by
impairing the appearance and function of masticatory tract. This
study was conducted on a sample of Iranian kidney transplant
recipients to determine the frequency and risk factors of cyclosporineinduced
gingival enlargement.
Materials and Methods. A total of 200 kidney transplant recipients
(mean age, 39.7 ± 13.2 years) were enrolled in this study. All of
the participants were receiving cyclosporine for at least 12 months
prior to the study. Factors including age, gender, cyclosporine dose,
serum concentration of cyclosporine, duration of immunosuppressive
administration, plaque, and gingival indexes were evaluated.
Results. Seventy kidney transplant recipients (35%) showed various
degrees of gingival enlargement. Serum cyclosporine concentration
and the intensity of gingival enlargement (McGraw index) had
a significant correlation (r = 0.35, P < .001). Multiple regression
analysis revealed an independent association between gingival
enlargement and either serum concentrations of cyclosporine
and plaque index (P < .05). The other variables failed to show a
significant relationship with gingival enlargement.
Conclusions. The prevalence of cyclosporine-induced gingival
enlargement in our patients seems to be almost greater than the
prevalence reported in previous studies. There was a significant
relationship between cyclosporine immunosuppressive treatment
and gingival overgrowth in Iranian kidney transplant recipients